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AL West previews

MLB March Report: Los Angeles Angels

Dan Flaherty Uncategorized AL West previews, Albert Pujols Angels, Angels pitching, Los Angeles Angels predictions, Los Angeles Angels preview, Los Angeles Angels spring

The Los Angeles Angels (LAA) have missed the playoffs two straight years after being the standard bearer in the AL West from 2007-09, along with division titles in 2004-05, and most importantly, their World Series championship run as a wild-card in 2002. So with the Texas Rangers threatening to put a stranglehold on the division, Angels’ owner Artie Moreno upped the ante and got the biggest prize on the free agent market since…well, probably just about ever. Albert Pujols is now in SoCal. And though he might not have done a nationwide plane tour like Peyton Manning, or a TV show like LeBron James, the man who took his talents to Hollywood is as consequential a signing there is, and has put the Angels at the forefront of the preseason conversation. TheSportsNotebook jumps in, evaluating LAA on the basis of their ability to get on base, hit for power, starting pitching and relief pitching.

MLB March Report: Seattle Mariners

Dan Flaherty Uncategorized AL West previews, Eric Wedge Mariners, Felix Hernandez Mariners, Seattle Mariners predictions, Seattle Mariners preview, Seattle Mariners spring reports

TheSportsNotebook’s spring training tour of the major leagues continues today with a stop in on the Seattle Mariners. It’s been hard times in the Pacific Northwest. They haven’t made the playoffs since their 116-win campaign of 2001, and had hard-luck misses the following two years, being left out with 93 wins. Over the last eight years, Seattle’s been on the wrong side of .500 six times and most of them have been pretty ugly, including last year’s 67-95 campaign. TheSportsNotebook looks at the 2012 Mariners with an eye on the usual measuring sticks of the ability to get on base, power, starting pitching and relief pitching.